Decentralised Audit System in Collaborative Workflow Environment

1. A system including: a non-transitory memory to store a workflow model having at least one version, the at least one version being executable by an execution engine as a specific workflow instance, the specific workflow instance associated with context information, the context information comprising model information identifying the workflow model and version information identifying the at least one version of the workflow model; and a processor to implement a workflow data monitor to receive and associate audit information with an object processed by an execution engine in terms of the specific instance of the workflow model, the audit information comprising the context information and execution information, the workflow data monitor further to receive an audit request with respect to the object processed in terms of a specific workflow instance and, responsive to receipt of the audit request with respect to the object is to: retrieve the associated audit information associated with the object; retrieve further audit information from at least one of the workflow model and the execution engine; and compare the associated audit information with the further audit information.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the workflow data monitor is to store the audit information such that it is attached to the object.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiving of the audit information includes receiving execution information pertaining to execution by the execution engine of the specific instance of the workflow model.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the execution information identifies an execution path, specified by the specific workflow instance, followed by the execution engine in processing of the object.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the specific workflow instance is characterized by at least one principle and at least one object.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the workflow data monitor is to process the audit information prior to associating the audit information with the object.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the workflow data monitor is to process the audit information by creating a hash value based on the audit information.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the workflow data monitor is to generate an audit result based on the comparison of the associated audit information with the further audit information.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the audit result indicates whether or not the associated audit information corresponds to the further audit information.

10. A method including: receiving, as a workflow monitor, audit information generated in connection with processing of an object by an execution engine in terms of a specific instance of a workflow model, the specific workflow instance associated with context information, the context information comprising model information identifying the workflow model and version information identifying the at least one version of the workflow model; using one or more processors, associating the audit information with an object such that the audit information is stored in a decentralized manner in association with the object, the audit information comprising the context information and execution information; receiving an audit request with respect to the object processed in terms of the specific instance of the workflow model; retrieving the associated audit information associated with the object; retrieving further audit information from at least one of the workflow model and the execution engine; and comparing the associated audit information with the further audit information.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the associating of the audit information with the object includes storing the audit information such that it is attached to the object.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the receiving of the audit information includes receiving, at the workflow for data monitor, execution information pertaining to execution of the specific instance of the workflow model.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the execution information identifies an execution path, within the specific instance of the workflow model, followed by the execution engine in processing of the object.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the specific instance of the workflow model is characterized by at least one principle and at least one object.

15. The method of claim 10 , including processing the audit information prior to associating the audit information with the object.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the processing of the audit information includes creating a hash value based on the audit information.

17. The method of claim 10 , including generating an audit result based on the comparison of the associated audit information with the further audit information.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the audit result indicates whether or not the associated audit information corresponds to the further audit information.

19. A system including: a non-transitory memory to store a workflow model having at least one version, the at least one version being executable by an execution engine as a specific workflow instance, the specific workflow instance associated with context information, the context information comprising model information identifying the workflow model and version information identifying the at least one version of the workflow model; and means for receiving and associating audit information with an object processed by an execution engine in terms of the specific instance of the workflow model, the audit information comprising the context information and execution information, the means further to receive an audit request with respect to the object processed in terms of a specific workflow instance and, responsive to receipt of the audit request with respect to the object is to: retrieve the associated audit information associated with the object; retrieve further audit information from at least one of the workflow model and the execution engine; and compare the associated audit information with the further audit information.

20. A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising: receiving, as a workflow monitor, audit information generated in connection with processing of an object by an execution engine in terms of a specific instance of a workflow model, the specific workflow instance associated with context information, the context information comprising model information identifying the workflow model and version information identifying the at least one version of the workflow model; associating the audit information with an object such that the audit information is stored in a decentralized manner in association with the object, the audit information comprising the context information and execution information; receiving an audit request with respect to the object processed in terms of the specific instance of the workflow model; retrieving the associated audit information associated with the object; retrieving further audit information from at least one of the workflow model and the execution engine; and comparing the associated audit information with the further audit information.